ANTHONY Crolla, guest speaker at Oldham RL Club’s forthcoming 20th Anniversary gala dinner, hopes to get another crack at a WBA lightweight title after his unanimous points verdict over Scotsman Ricky Burns in Manchester.

Anthony Crolla with Oldham’s Rugby’s chairman Chris Hamilton

“I owe these people (his vociferous fans) another world title. Manchester, I love you,” said the Chadderton-based ‘Million Dolla’ Crolla after 12 rounds on Saturday night in which the three judges had him 116-113, 117-112 and 116-114 ahead.

He lost his world crown after back-to-back defeats by Venezuela’s Jorge Linares, but after this latest triumph he is now firmly back in contention for another WBA title shot.

Commenting on Saturday’s fight at the Manchester Arena, Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton said: “It was a massive bout for both boxers but Anthony was always in control. The judges got it right. He was a well-deserved winner.”

Roughyeds supporters and fight fans can meet, greet and have photographs taken with Crolla at the rugby club’s big birthday bash in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham on Friday, November 3.

Coach Scott Naylor and the Oldham RLFC players will also be in attendance.

Tickets cost £45, including three-course dinner, live entertainment and DJ.

The club will be recognising that, despite every possible handicap and obstacle, it has completed the first 20 years of its existence since being launched in the autumn of 1997 after the liquidation of Oldham Bears.

The future of professional rugby league in this town looked bleak in the dark days of autumn 20 years ago, before Hamilton headed a four-man consortium that launched a new club from scratch with no ground.

Two decades on club and chairman are still in tandem and flying the pro rugby league flag in Oldham – reason enough for raising a glass or two on November 3.